Review of our pitch

On Friday, we had to present our pitch to our class and teacher. The pitch consisted of many things including our synopsis, character ideas, music ideas, costume, location, props and storyboard. We used Prezi, as this software allows us to be more creative and to extend our technology use.

 I believe that our pitch went well, although we were nervous we tried to maintain a positive and calm feel so that we would come across confident in our idea. We all had a part to say and all tried to keep eye contact with the audience instead of just reading off the board. 

We did receive constructive criticism, which is good as this allows us to improve and develop our ideas for Double Trouble. Our peers expressed their liking for our idea so I'm glad! 

Pitch feedback

From our pitch we received feedback from our teacher and peers of things they liked and things that we could improve on.

They liked our idea as it conforms to stereotypes of the rebellious party girl but also the nerdy girl. Also, our choice of costume and how clear the difference was between the two was favoured with our peers. They also liked our name 'Double Trouble' as it is catchy and rhymes so people will remember it.

However, we also received some constructive criticism, such as our target audience and demographic needs to be more clear and concise. Unfortunately we didn't include our story board in our pitch so we need to add our storyboard to our pitch.

Pitch

Planning final project: location photos

We will be filming most of our opening sequence within Analiza's house in Winchmore Hill. 

Some parts of our filming will also be filmed on the road outside her house. 

Planning final project: costume

Julie (the nerd) will be wearing a long sleeved stripy pyjama top and black bottoms. Later on, she will put on her school shirt in a rush on top of her pyjama top, and buttons it up to the top. However, as she is a nerd, she isn't very conscious about her appearance. Her skirt is long and modest. She reveals no skin which suggests her innocent nature and focus on studies. She carries a side satchel that is blue. Satchels are normally seen on more "nerdy" characters.

Analiza (the party girl/rebel) will be wearing at the start, a black bodycon dress and on top a black cardigan as she will be coming home from a party and tan wedges. She will be carrying a black handbag. Whilst she gets ready for school, she puts on her school shirt which has a few buttons undone and her skirt is short but she also pulls it up a bit more. She carries a handbag, seen on more girly girls that are conscious on fashion.

The contrast in costume between the two different characters show the huge contrast to the audience.

Planning final idea: props

Props that we plan to use:

For the nerd

Revision books and notes

Trophies

DVDs

Glasses

Other props: 

Alarm clock

Blue satchel

Bedding
Hole puncher

For the rebel

High party heels

Fashion magazine

Make up and beauty products

Bodycon party dresses

Other props:

Headphones

iPhone

Handbag

House keys

Planning final project: ideas

We have been looking at Skins, a British teen drama that involves many of the stereotypes we have been looking at. The start of this episode consists of a young girl, Effy who stumbles home early in the morning after a rough night out. We thought that we could incorporate the idea of a rebellious young girl in our own opening sequence. 

Another one of our influences is Sam and Cat, an American sitcom. They are two teenagers girls with different personalities. Using this idea, we thought we could use the idea of a rebellious more outgoing teenage girl in contrast to a nerdy, shy girl to show the huge contrast between these two girls.

Sound Experimentation

Working With Sound 

While making our sound track to go with our movie opening we  learnt a lot of things for example how to physically put sound onto a movie but also how to pick the appropriate sound to go with the image. 

When putting the sound track onto our movie we discovered that our initial sound tracks that we chose didn't really match the theme of the movie and therefore clashed with it and didn't represent it well. We decided to change our sound track to a calmer and more mellow instrumental and we discovered this went with the image a lot better. 

Sound Experiment

Ways of Transport in Teen Movies

Ways of Transport in Teen Movies

Myself and my group realised that teenagers in movies tend to travel in different ways depending on their social status. For example, a Jock would usually travel by car or cab; a 'Geek' would normally travel on foot. 

Different ways of transport include:

Buses:

Trains:

Car:

On Foot:

Reflective Analysis

For the past few weeks, I have been learning much more about the Media. I've been learning more about Teen film and Teen drama and the meanings of these Teen films/drama.

I've been learning much more about them during this unit and there is so much stuff that i haven't know or have knowledge of it. I do admit it i have been a struggle during this unit, however, with my ability of benign a quick learner, it has been easy for me to complete these task that have been handed out. 

My group 42, has been a good journey so far, we been talking, being more creative and active than ever for our teen opening film scene that last for 2 minutes. 

Improvements 

I should be able to keep up with blogger as soon as possible.

Do more post blog that isn't on the check sheet

Adding more details in my blog post to get the highest mark

Being more creative as well as being a part of the team.

Type of sound and Music used in Teen film openings

Sound used in teen film openings

 

 

All films use sound to accompany the footage as it makes the audience relate better to the movie and encourage the audience to feel a certain emotion during the moment of the movie.

 

The type of sound that could be found in teen film opening are:

 

Dialogue, which is sound that is originally on the footage of the movie, it is not added into the movie in post production. This sound is used so that the audience know what is going on in the scene and can understand the action.

 

Foley sound, which is non diegetic sound added in a later process of making the film, normally in post production. This sound is added to underline important sound in the movie that may have been lost in the filming of the movie e.g. the sound of heels. Foley sound can make this more defined and underline the atmosphere of the scene.

 

 

This is an example of how Foley sound is used within a movie to emphasise the action.  

 

 

Background Sound or background music. This is also non diegetic sound added in the later post production process of editing. This type of sound is very powerful, it can completely alter the mood or pace of a specific scene.  

 

It is important when choosing sound that you relate it well to the mood or action of the movie.

 

For example, if you are filming for a teenage movie and the action in the film is people dancing in a club you will use music which will reflect the situation and make the audience get engaged in the scene.

 

 

My progress so far

My progress so far this year has been consistent and steady. I have posted regularly with a variety of technology in each post to interest the audience. I have tried to make it as interesting but informative as possible by using text but not too much as this would bore the audience. I have learnt plenty about teen movies and what they include, it's stereotypes and lots of new terminology, which I have found engaging. Blogging has allowed me to document my progress and journey throughout this coursework which will be helpful in the future when we film our real coursework piece.

Other things I have learnt are time management, we have had to stick to strict deadlines in order to keep on track and allow ourselves enough time to edit etc.. I have learnt how to manage my time better, by planning ahead and making sure there is enough time for each task. As well as this I have learnt skills such as team work, as I have had to communicate with other group members about when to meet out of lesson hours to plan and complete our work. I have had to compromise lunch times and so have my other group members, through this we have learnt about compromise and how to priotise important things.

I would like to carry on posting consistently, with interesting content and a range of technology in each post. I hope to maintain a good progress grade throughout the year and hopefully end up content. I will try to add more detail but also make it interesting for readers and doing extra posts to keep my blog updated.

Media word cloud

Comparison of our shot by shot remake to the original

Our shot by shot remake and the original

The beginning title sequence and our production icon of our shot by shot remake was almost identical. We made sure to match the colours and the style of the writing to the original and put dissolves onto the titles to make them disappear from the screen smoothly.

The still shots that are used in the opening could however been better, some shots proved hard to film with a tripod and therefore became shaky and unclear. However, from this we learnt that we must always use a tripod when filming or a fig rig as they will provide us with clear still shots which are more comfortable for the viewer to watch.

We tried to make the content of the still shots as identical to the original as possible. On most cases we were successful with the location and the mimicking of the angles of the shots however, sometimes we could not find a location similar enough o the original one e.g. boys locker rooms. Because of this we could not film every still shot in the opening.

The moving footage was hard to copy completely as the setting was obviously using cars but we worked our way around it by using props such as chairs to mimic cars.

Overall I think that we learnt a lot from the shot by shot remake and will be able to apply this knowledge to our future filming.

The Breakfast Club Shot By Shot Remake

Travelling and Arriving Blog Task

The type of transportation of a character will be depending on their personality and also their social status. The examples of transportation will be shown below.

Tube/Train 

This is an animation gif  of underground train and overground train in London. Train are usually faster than or any other transportation in London since theres no traffic for the train. TFL ( Transport For London ) are in charge of transportation in London such as Train, buses and tubes. In order to get on the train, the train has a fair depending on what time it is. The type of character will take train or tube will be a normalising character in the film. Or a character that is always late to class, so taking train will be the best choice for themselves 

Buses 

This is a red bus part of TFL in London going thought London. Again, Buses a fair at a set price depending on your age. Under 12, its free, and over 12 cost £2.20. Buses can be fast if there isn't any traffic therefore you can be on time for where you need to be. A character will take bus as they like to have a nice view of the city or enjoying themselves during the journey.

Walking

Walking is part of transportation as you are still travelling.  Walking is a ealth exercises and walking can be only if the person live close to the school or college. A type of character that will walk to school will be a person who live very close to the school.  

The Breakfast Club: Characters and Roles

Agata plays Claire, the 'Princess' and spoilt Daddy's girl as she has a detention which she wants to get out of. Andy plays her father as he is the only male in our group.

Andy will also play Brian, the 'Brain', whilst Analiza plays his mother, and Agata plays his little sister.

Andy plays Andrew, the 'Jock' whilst Julie plays his father, dressed up like a man and putting on a deep voice. We have to improvise as we only have one male in our group.

Analiza plays the 'Basketcase', although there is no speech used so it doesn't matter, she just walks across the 'street' (in our case, across the room). Julie plays the role of the driver in the car that nearly runs her over, showing how much the Basketcase doesn't care and her laid back vibe.

Analysis

Reflective Analysis

My progress so far has been good, I'm up to date with most of my blogging tasks however, I still need to complete one or two. I think I'm good at completing my work on time however, I sometimes forget to post them online on time. 

The thing I need to improve on is extra blogs as I have yet to complete one of those. I also need to work on making my blogs more interactive by adding more technology into it. 

Examples of technology I could use in my blog include: 

• Embedding Videos/Prezis
• Annotated apps
• Directors commentaries  
• Directors cuts 
• Time toast 
• Interviewing people 
• VLOGS 

I have also learnt a lot of thing in the TV Drama and Film Industry unit, I learnt about the stages of creating a film (Production, Distribution, Marketing and Exhibition) I also found out about money in the film business and how important it is to the production of a film. In TV Drama I have learnt to analyse movies and be able to write about the 4 micro features of it. (Cinematography, Editing, Sound, MES) 

Modes of Transport

Modes of Transport for Teens

When planning a film opening one of the good things to do is to take your audience on a journey, this is done metaphorically throughout the movie and can be mirrored in a movie opening by identifying the characters by their means of transport, an example of this would be the movie 'The Breakfast Club' where types of characters are identified by the type of car that the characters arrived in.

When thinking about our teen movie opening we have to think about the transport available to us.

One form of very popular transport in London is buses which is what many teenagers take to get to school. They're the favoured form of transport for most teenagers as its cheap and under education even free. This form of transport can be used to represent an average teenager.

Another popular form of transport in London is the underground, its fast and gets you to your desired location. Its used by teenagers who live perhaps further away from their school.

Walking is the most common way to get somewhere. When speaking of representation walking can be used to portray someone who is not as well of as other people e.g. a comparison of someone who is being dropped off in a nice car and someone who walks to school.

Cycling is a less common way of transport used in London as not many people like to do it. In representations it can be associated with teenagers who represent the minority for example have a small group of friends and aren't very social.





Travelling and arriving

The Breakfast Club



Our task is to reshoot the opening of "The Breakfast Club" exploring the different stereotypes of students in an american high school by the ways in which they go to school, describing the characters locations and mode of transport. 

"The Princess" - She is the first character to appear driven in by her dad, connoting that she is a daddy's girl, in a BMW. This implies that she is rich and spoilt.

"The Brain" - We then see the 'geek' in an old car with his mother and a younger sibling. The numberplate shown says 'emc' which could signify his intelligence. This supports maths as in school you learn about e=mc squared.

"The Jock" - He's an athlete driven in to school in his dad's truck to portray their masculinity. the father seems stern and the conversation is concentrated on sport and his future career as an athlete. 

"The Criminal" - Seen walking and comes alone. His clothes and body language portray his lack of care and disregard to his surroundings and his education. He is almost run over as he doesn't concentrate on the road, indicating his rebel like exterior.

"The Basket case" - The last character is dropped off quite suddenly and as soon as she gets out from the backseat, which connotes her outcast status, the car drives off. There is no interaction with anyone in the car like the other characters. This indicates her loneliness.

Time Line

Identification of stereotypes in teen films

Not Another Teen Movie

Stereotype: A

widely held but fixed and oversimplified image or idea of a particular type of person or thing. A stereotype is used to categorise a group of people.

Not another teen movie adopts many stereotypes of the type of people in high schools for example:

The Nasty Cheerleader

The Cocky Blond Guy

The Cruellest Girl

The Token Black Guy

The Obsessed Best Friend

The Stupid Fat Guy

The Desperate Virgin

The Sensitive Guy

The Wannabe

The Perfect Girl

The Foreign Exchange Student

The Beautiful Weirdo

The Pretty Ugly Girl

The Popular Jock

Here are some examples of these stereotypes

This is an example of a stereotype of The Nasty/Slutty Cheerleader. This stereotype is shown by the cheerleader costumes that are worn in the movie, the props and even the hair and intelligence (the lead cheerleader is always blonde and usually dumb)

The Popular Jock is always shown as the good looking arrogant guy who usually plays sports. They wear baseball jackets and get all the pretty girls.

The Pretty Ugly Girl, wears clothes that are unflattering and wears glasses however, without them she would be beautiful. She doesn't follow the norms of popularity and is usually shy.

The token black guy is usually not the main character but is friends to one of the main characters, he is usually funny and has his own catch phrases.

Other stereotypes include the nerd who is very intelligent and unpopular usually wears geeky clothes and the popular girl who everyone wishes to be like.

Intertextuality is the shaping of a text meaning by another text. For example a parody.

Not another teen movie uses several previous teen movies and their formed stereotypes to make their own, they make a parody.

Another teen movie uses movies such as 10 Things I Hate About You, Almost Famous, American Beauty, American Pie, Better Off Dead, The Breakfast Club, Bring It On and many more to over exaggerate stereotypes and humour the audience.